Fastener applying implement



July 5,1949. j QJQDJCYRARY V I 2,475,013

n'sr m gn APPLYING innmn'r Filed June 11. 1945 z Suits-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JAY D; CRARY ATTORNEY Patented July 5, 1949 FASTENER APPLYING IMPLEMENT Jay D. Crary, Portland, 0rcg., asslgnor to Paper Strap, Inc., Portland, 0reg., a corporation of Oregon Application June 11, 1945, Serial No. 598,789

6 Claims. (Cl. 1-3) This invention relates to fastener applying implements and more particularly to hand operated stapling machines.

Hand operated stapling machines usually comprise a driving head including a magazine arm adapted for holdin a supply of staples which are fed toward the driver end from which they are driven at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the magazine arm. Under ordinary circumstances the work-piece is inserted beneath the driver end of the magazine arm with the edge of the work-piece extending at right angles with respect to the longitudinal direction of the magazine arm so that the staple is driven into the work-piece parallel with the edge thereof. In many instances it is desirable to drive the staples into the work-piece at right angles with respect to the edge thereoi which cannot be done with the ordinary stapling machine. Thus, for example, the stapling machines as heretofore available are not suitable for stapling together the overlapped ends of a length of strap, in which case the staples should extend crosswise for greatest strength.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a new and improved stapling implement which is particularly adapted for driving staples into a work-piece at right angles with respect to the edge thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved stapling machine which .is so constructed and arranged that staples may be driven through a work-piece either parallel or at-right angles with respect to the edge thereof.

More specifically it is an object of the present invention to provide a stapling machine having a base member which is so designed that the edge of the work-piece may be placed over the clinching element thereof beneath the driver head of the magazine arm in any desired position throughout substantially 360 with respect to the edge of the work-piece.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved stapling machine which is particularly suitable for use in stapling together the opposite ends of a length of strap wrapped around a package;

A stll further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved stapling machine particularly suitable for stapling together the opposite free ends of a length of strap extending about a package which machine is provided with means for facilitating the drawing tightly together of the ends of the strap before they are fastened together.

And another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved stapling machine for stapling togther the free ends of a length of strap extending around a package, the stapling machine being provided with means for stretching the strap tightly about the package and for holding the strap in such tightly stretched relation as staples are driven through the overlapped strap ends.

In accordance with an illustrated embodiment, the invention comprises a stapling machine including a staple driving head unit and an elongated staple magazine arm. The stapling machine is also provided with a clinching element mounted cooperatively beneath the staple driving head unit and is secured along one edge only whereby the stapling machine may be applied to the edge of the work-piece with the edge portion of the work-piece extending over the clinching 20 element and beneath the magazine arm. With the 26 piece. The machine described is particularly suitable for securing together the opposite ends of a length of strap extending around a package, the staples being driven through the strap transversely thereof. In accordance with a further modification of the invention the stapling machine is provided with means whereby the strap ends may be drawn tightly about the package and held in such position while staples are driven therethrough.

For a consideration of what is believed novel and, inventive, attention is directed to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings while the features of novelty will be pointed out with greater particularity in the appended claims.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a stapling machine constructed in accordance with one form of the invention; Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the machine as illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a stapling machine constructed in accordance with a further modi fication of the invention; Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the stapling machine shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a view in perspective illustrating one element of the stapling machine shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail view in perspective illustrating one part of the stapling machine of Fig. 3; Fig. '7 is a side elevation illustrating a stapling machine of a different type from that shown in Fig. 1 and embodying the invention according to a further modification; Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail view illustrating the side of the stapling machine opposite to that shown in 7; Fig. 9 is a fragmentary front elevation of t e stapling machine shown in Fig. 7 Fig. 10 is a view taken along the line Ill-l of Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is a fragmentary detail view illustrating the forward end of the stapling machine showing one application thereof in stapling together the overlapped opposite ends of a work-piece; and Fig. 12 is a view similar to that of Fig. 11 but illustrating an alternative method of usage of the machine.

Referring now to the drawings in Fig. 1 is shown a fastener applying implement, such as a stapling machine, which, in this instance, comprises a longitudinal magazine arm l0 including a driver head II, and a base member l2. The magazine arm and driver head are hingedly connected as at l3 at their rear ends to the corresponding end of the base member l2. The magazine arm and driver head are of a type now in common usage, the magazine arm in being adapted for receiving a supply of U -shaped staples and which are fed toward the free or driving end from which they are driven by a pressure applied downwardly onto the knob I4 and in a direction extending at right angles with respect to .the longitudinal direction of the machine. The arm Ill extends freely above the base member l2 for a considerable distance, the rear end of the base member I2 being provided with a pair of upwardly extending flanges l onto which the magazine arm Ill and driving head H are hingedly connected at the rearmost ends, the flanges l5 serving further to guide the up and down pivotal movement of the magazine arm with respect to the base.

The forward end of the base member I2 is provided with a clinching element I! which is cooperatively arranged in an aligned relation with the staple discharge slot in the forward end of the magazine arm l0 whereby the legs of the staples are clinched over as they are driven through the work-piece positioned thereabove and beneath the magazine arm. With the ordinary staple machine heretofore available it is not possible to drive staples at right angles to the edge of the work-piece over a distance from one corner of the work-piece greater than the distance between the clinching element and the upstanding flanges l5 at the rear end of the base. The present invention consists in the provision of a, base member for the stapling machine which is so designed that staples may be driven through the edge of a work-piece at right angles with respect thereto substantially irrespective of the length of such edge.

Referring now to Fig. 2 it will be observed that the forward end portion 20 of the base member l2 mounting the clinching element I1 is rigidly secured to the remainder of the base member it) along one edge only as shown by the connecting portion 2| whereby a notch or cut-out opening indicatedat 22 is formed in the base member extending transversely thereof from one edge for a distance corresponding substantially to the width of the magazine arm I 0 and preferably somewhat greater than the width of the staples carried therein. While in the present embodiment the portion of the base member 20 supporting the clinching element I1 is shown as being rigidly secured to the remainder of the base member by an outwardly extending off-set portion 2| defining a notch 22 between the clinching element ll of the hinge 13 it will be obvious that the forward end portion of the base memher may be rigidly secured along one side relative to the hinge connection It in any other suitable manner. A work-piece is shown by the dotted lines 24 in Fig. 2 extending through the notch 22 and over the upper surface of the forward portion 20 of the base member with the edge of the work-piece indicated at 25 extending in a direction parallel with the longitudinal direction of the stapling machine. With this arrangement, it will be obvious that staples may readily be driven through the work-piece in a direction at right angles with respect to the edge of the work-piece.

While not necessarily limited thereto, the stapling machine of the present invention is particularly suitable for stapling together the opposite ends of a length of paper strap extending around a package. The paper strap is formed of a strip of relatively thin and relatively tough paper having opposite marginal edge portions folded over upon itself a plurality of times, the folded edge portions substantially meeting each other along the center of the strap on one side thereof. This strap can be formed inexpensively, is strong and durable and suitable in a wide variety of applications where other types of tying means are not practicable.

Referring again to Fig. 1 the opposite portions of a length of paper strap are shown at 30 and 3| the intermediate portion of which may extend around a carton or package (not shown). In applying the strap to the package one end portion, such as end portion 30, is folded over and about the forward edge of the forward end portion 20 of the stapling machine with the extremity 32 thereof beneath portion 20 of the machine and is brought back from over the top of the clinching element l1 downwardly through the notch 22 and then beneath the remainder or rear portion of the base of the stapling machine. The other end portion 3| of the strap after having been wrapped about the package is brought over the top of the first end portion of the strap above the forward base portion 20, then downwardly through the notch 22 in an aligned relation over the top of the first end portion 30 of the strap. The outer extremity 35 of the end portion 3| may then be grasped by one hand while with the other hand the stapling machine is slid forwardly or in the direction as indicated by the arrow 36 until the strap is drawn reasonably tight. It is to be understood that paper strap of the type referred to is relatively stiff and that the extremity 32 of the lowermost strap end will not tend to slip over the forward edge of the base portion 20. By merely holdin the stapling machine firmly against the top of the package, the pressure exerted against the strap extremity 32 between the base portion 20 and the surface of the package will adequately prevent slippage oi the extremity 32 over the base portion 20 as the strap is tightened. After the strap has been drawn tight in the manner described, then by downwardly pressing against may be driven through the two superposed strap ends to firmly secure them together. After the first staple is driven home then the stapling machine may be slid back by increments and additional successive staples driven as may be required to effect a more permanent fastening between the two strap ends.

Under certain circumstances it may be desirable to provide additional means in connection with the stapling machine whereby the strap may be drawn tighter than may be accomplished by the knob H a staple.

the lever onto the pivot pin 43.

the procedure outlined in connection with the previously described modification in which the strap is tightened merely by pulling on one end thereof and simultaneously pushing on the staplin machine forward with the other hand.

In the further modification illustrated in Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive the stapling machine comprises a magazine arm 40 and driving member 4| with knob 42, as previously described, hingedly conconnected as at 43 onto the rear end of a base member 44. The base member 44 is substantially similar to that formerly described except that it is provided with a doubled flange portion 45 underlying the upper forward base portion 46 and spaced a slight distance therefrom. The portion 45 is rigidly secured to the upper portion 46 along the edge 41 on the same side as the portion 48 connecting the forward base portion 46 to the remainder of the base member 44. As illustrated in Fig. 3 the extremity 56 of the first end portion 5| of a strap may be inserted into the space between the portions 45 and 46 and even though the fit may be quite loose the extremity 50 will be held securely in position against slippage over the leading edge of the base portion 46 as the strap is pulled tight.

Attached to the rear end of the stapling machine and mounted upon the pivot pin of the hinge 43 is a lever 53 connected eccentrically to the right angularly bent wings 54 mounting The lever 53 is of a width just slightly greater than the width of the driving member 4| in order that in the inoperative position and when its use is not required it may fit snugly down over the top of the driving member 4|. After the strap has been wrapped about the package the opposite end portion 56 thereof is placed over the other end portion and brought rearwardly through the notch in the base and then upwardly along the lever 53. By firmly grasping the lever 53 in one hand and simultaneously holding the end portion 56 of the strap thereagainst the lever may be swung over the top of the stapling machine in the direction indicated by the arrow 51. In so doing the stapling machine will be driven forwardly or the end portion 56 of the strap pulled therethrough or both (depending upon whether there is slack to be taken up in one or both of the end portions of the strap) with resultant tightening of the strap. If desired, the lever 53 may be returned to its rearwardly extending position and a new grip obtained thereon together with the strap 56 and swung forwardly again until the desired degree of tension is obtained in the strap. When the strap has been drawn as tight as desired the driven member 4| may be depressed and a staple driven through the superimposed strap end portions extending over the clinching element. The stapling machine may then be drawn back by increments and a plurality of successive staples driven in order more securely to fasten the strap ends together.

Package wrapping paper strap of the type referred to herein is normally supplied in rolls and with the stapling machine of the present invention it is not necessary to sever the strap from the roll until after a section has been stapled about a package. After the stapling has been completed in the manner described, then the roll I may be severed from that strap portion secured about the package relatively closely adjacent the stapled section.

Referring now to Figs. 7 to 12 inclusive the invention will be described as embodied in a 6 stapling machine of a slightly different type than that shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive. The stapling machine as previously described is provided with a base member and which is adapted to be firmly supported upon a backing surface and stapling is accomplished by pressing downwardly upon the head unit to force it against the base member. The stapling machine of the type illustrated in Fig. '1 does not require that it be supported upon a backing surface and stapling is accomplished by grasping the machine in the hand and forcing an operating lever against a frame portion which drives the stapling head against the clinching element supported from the frame. As illustrated, this stapling machine comprises a frame member 60 having a staple driving head unit 6| slidably mounted in the forward end thereof and a manual operating lever 62 hingedly mounted as at 63 onto the frame 66. Upon downward movement of the lever 6| force is transmitted through the lever arm 64 hinged at 65 to the rear end to the frame 60 for urging the head unit 6| downwardly against the clinching element 66. Secured to thevframe 60 is a magazine arm 66 adapted for holding a supply of staples and for feeding the staples to the head unit 6|.

The clinching element 66, as constructed in accordance with the present invention is so designed that staples may be driven by the machine through overlapped portions of a work-piece and in a direction at right angles to the edge thereof. The clinching element is defined by a relatively small rectangular plate member which is secured along one edge to a bracket portion 61 extending upwardly along one side of the head unit 6| and secured at its upper end to the side of the frame 60. The plate member extends parallel with the lower end of the staple driving head unit 6| and is provided with a pair of recesses 16 for receiving the lowermost ends of the staple legs driven from the head unit 6| and for clinching them over. For reasons as will be pointed out more fully hereinafter the lower end of the bracket portion 61 is secured to the right angularly extending plate portion 66 along the edge thereof somewhat rearwardly of the staple discharge slot in the head unit 6|, as illustrated more clearly in the views of Figs. 7 and 8.

It will be apparent, that the stapling machine as thus far described is substantially similar to the stapling machine according to the modifica- I tion of Figs. 1 and 2 and may be used in the same manner as described in connection therewith. In stapling together the overlapped end portions of a length of paper strap extending around an article, the extremity of the end portion of the strap next adjacent the clinching element may be doubled back over the edge of the clinching element and which may be pressed against the surface of the article to hold such end extremity firmly in place while tension is applied to the opposite end portion of the strap for drawing the same taut about the article prior to driving of the staples. As illustrated, however, the stapling machine of this modification is provided with a plate portion 13 extending beneath the clinching element resembling the portion 45 described in connection with the modification of the Figs. 3 to 6 whereby a slot is formed beneath the clinching element for receiving the doubled back end extremity of the lowermost strap portion and for holding it in place while tension is applied by pulling upon the opposite end of the strap. The plate portion 13 is secured to the lowermost end of the bracket portion 61 and extends parallel 7 with the plate portion 88 defining the clinching element and in a suitably spaced relation so as to define a strap receiving slot therebetween.

In Fig. 11 is shown a portion of the stapling machine as described having the opposite end portions 15 and 16 of a strap extending about an article (not shown) arranged in an overlapping relation over the clinching element 66 and extending longitudinally of the stapling machine, that is, parallel with and beneath the magazine arm 68. The extremity 11 of the lowermost strap end portion is doubled back around the forward edge of the clinching element 66 and extended through the slot between the clinching element and the lowermost plate portion 13. The lowermost strap end portion is thus held in place and the strap extending around the article may be drawn taut such as by pulling upon the extremity 18 of the uppermost strap end portion. After the strap has been so tightened the two strap end portions may be secured together by driving a staple therethrough by forcing the lever 62 downwardly against the frame 60. In order to facilitate the positioning of the strap end portion centrally over the clinching element 66 the forward edge of the clinching element is provided with a pair of nubs 80 and 8| at the opposite corners, the space therebetween corresponding to the width of the strap used with the machine.

In Fig. 12 is shown a view similar to that of Fig. 11 except that the strap is shown extending over the clinching element in the opposite direction from that shown in Fig. 11. The operation in fastening together the overlappedend portions of a strap extending about an article is substantially the same as previously described except that the strap is tightened by pulling upon the end of the uppermost strap portion which, in this case, extends forwardly of the stapling machine rather than rearwardly as in the previously described instance.

As previously mentioned, the lower end of the depending bracket 61 is spaced somewhat rearwardly of the forward end of the staple driving head Si in order that the machine may also be used for driving staples in a direction parallel with the edge of the strap should such usage be desired for any reason. This space 84 between the forward edge of the bracket 61 and the staples, shown by dotted lines 85 in Figs. 7 and 8, may be selected as desired. depending upon the width of the strap, to guage the distance from the edge of the strap to the point through which staples are to be driven.

Having described the invention in what are considered to be preferred embodiments thereof it is desired that it be understood that the specific details shown and described are merely illustrative and that the present invention may be carried out by other means.

What I claim is:

1. A stapling machine comprising the combination of a head unit adaptedto contain a supply of staples, said head unit including means for driving said staples through a work-piece, an element secured to said head unit for clinching over the ends of said staples driven through said workpiece, means for holding one end of an elongated work-piece relative to said clinching element and means on the rear end of said head unit for engaging the opposite end of said work-piece and for drawing together said two ends of said workpiece.

2. In a stapling machine, the combination comprising a head member adapted for holding a sup ply oi staples, said head member including means for driving said staples, a clinching element arranged beneath said head member and normally spaced therefrom for receiving therebetween a Pair of superposed opposite end portions of a work-piece, means adjacent said element for holding one end of said work-piece and means on said head member for engaging the opposite end of said work-piece and operable for pulling it tight preparatory to stapling of said end portions of said work-piece together.

3. A stapling machine adapted for stapling together the superposed opposite ends of a strap extending about a package, said stapling machine comprising a head unit adapted to hold a supply of staples, a clinching element arranged beneath the forward end of said head member for clinching the ends of staples driven from said head member, means secured to said element at one side of said head member and supporting said element in a spaced relation relative to said head member for receiving said superposed strap end portions therebetween, means for holding the extremity of the lower end portion of said strap extending over said element, lever means secured to the rear end of said head unit for cooperatively engaging the upper opposite end portion of said strap, said lever means being swingable over the top of said head member for drawing said strap tight preparatory to stapling together the superposed end portions oi said strap.

4. In a machine for stapling together the superposed opposite end portions of a length of strap the combination comprising a staple driving head. a clinching member comprising a vertical portion secured to one side of said machine and two horizontally spaced portions connected at the same side to said vertical portion and extending beneath said driving head, the uppermost of said horizontal portions defining an anvil, the space between said horizontally spaced portions being suflicient to receive the doubled back end of the lower most of said superposed straps extending over said anvil.

5. In a stapling machine adapted for stapling together the superposed opposite end portions of a length of strap pulled tightly about a package, the combination comprising an elongated staple driving head unit, a member defining a staple clinching means extending horizontally beneath said head unit, an element extending in a horizontally spaced relation beneath said member, means secured to adjacent side edges of said member and said element for supporting said member and said element relative to said head unit, said element being spaced from said member by a relatively narrow slot therebetween for receiving one end portion of a strap extending over the upper surface of said member and doubled back between said member and said element.

6. In a stapling machine adapted for stapling together the superposed opposite end portions of a length of strap extending about an article, a staple driving head unit including an elongated magazine arm for containing a supply of staples, a staple clinching member extending horizontally beneath said head unit, supporting bracket means secured to one side edge of said clinching member for mounting said members relative to said head unit, and means extending from said bracket means along the Same side as said one side edge of said member and extending beneath said clinching member for receiving the extremity of one end portion of said strap extending over said 9 10 clinching member and doubled back beneath said Number Name Date member for holding it while a. pull is applied to 1,480,682 Hennings Jan. 15, 1924 the opposite end portion of said strap. 1,770,349 Bliss July 8, 1930 JAY D. CRARY. 1,900,683 Allen Mar. 7, 1933 v 5 1,902,825 Bliss et a1 Mar. 28, 1933 REFERENCES CITED 2,101,660 Vogel Dec. '7, 1937 The following referenlces are of record in the 25,09,778 Maynard 1943 file of this patent: FOREIGN PATENTS UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 Number Country Date Number Name Date 463,874 France Nov. 5, 1914 1,184,442 Girard May 23, 1916 

